Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) Expression in Borderline Ovarian Tumors: An Immunohistochemical Study
Patou Tantbirojn MD*, Surang Triratanachat MD*, Prasert Trivijitsilp MD*, Somchai Niruthisard MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To investigate the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in epithelial
borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) by immunohistochemistry with correlation to clinicopathologic variables.
Material and Method: Paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 62 borderline ovarian tumors (47 mucinous, 14
serous, and 1 clear cell) and 12 epthelial ovarian carcinomas were immunostained with antibodies to hTERT.
The intensity and quantity of the immunostaining was determined and analyzed with clinicopathological
characteristics.
Results : hTERT expression was detected in 48.4% of BOT and all cases of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. In
immunoreactive BOT, 50% of cases were scored as high expression. Serous BOT had the highest rate of hTERT
expression. There was no significant statistical difference of hTERT immunoreactivity between histologic
types of BOT. No hTERT immunoreactivity was observed in the benign parts of the same slides of each
immunoreactive case. hTERT immunoreactivity was positively correlated with FIGO stage (p = 0.04), but not
with other variables. The mean follow-up time of BOT cases was 81.63 months and no recurrence or death was
noted.
Conclusion : hTERT expression was found in half of BOT and all of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. High hTERT
expression was associated with FIGO stage.
Keywords : Immunohistochemistry, Ovarian neoplasms, Telomerase, Telomerase reverse transcriptase, TERT protein
